Spool and ribbon mechanism for front-strike type-writing machines.



No. 864,777. PATENTED SEPT. s, 1907.

w. R. FOX.

SPOOL AND RIBBON MECHANISM FOR FRONT STRIKE TYPE WRITING- MACHINES. v

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 4, 1907.

Witnesses In ventor,

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

No. 864,777. v PATENTED SEPT. s, 1907. WVR. POX.

SPOOL AND RIBBON 'MEGHAN'ISM P011 FRONT STRIKE. TYPE WRITING v MACHINES. A'PPLICIATIQH FILED MAB-4, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2Q UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM R. FOX,-OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

SPOOL AND RIBBON IECHANISK FOB FRONT-STRIKE TYPE-WRITING Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented semi a, 1907;

Application on larch 4,1907. ,Borialllo. 360,428.

To all whom it may concern:

,Be it known that I, Wfnman R. Fox, azcitizen of the United States-,residing at the city of Grand Rapids, county of Kent, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and nseiullmprovements in and Ribbon Mechanismior Front-Strike Type-Writing Machines, of;

which the followingis a specification.

, This invention relates to improvements vinspools and:

spool mechanismsfor typewriters;

. e objects oi ithe iuwgentiomfirst; to provide an,

improved"constructiomof spoohby-meansoi which'the ribbon can-be readily attachedfanii odetached. Second,

' "to provide an'improved' constructionof spool which per.- mits the ready tripping of the ribbon shifting mechanism. -Third to provide an'improved construction of spool and Further-objects,

. struction, will definitely appearirom the detailed descn tionto follow. I

a p i t e j s vices describodsin theiollowing specification. v The invention is clearly defined and pointed outintheclaiinsr I The portions of atypewriter ilhistrating the-features I p of my invention are ;clearl'y illustrated in the accomspool in panying drawing, a part of specification; in hi h I I Figurel is a portionof a typewriter with my-improved vertical sectidnal view on a line'- corresponding to line -3--3 of Figs..2ai1d'4. Fig 4 is a detail view of the central portion=of1one oithe spool heads. Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional wiew on line 55 of Fig. 1, showing the trip on the rock shaft 15.

looking in'the direction oithe' littlearrows at the ends of the section lines, and similar numerals-of reference In the d wing. all of the sectional views are takenrefer to similar parts throughout the several views. 7

Referring to the numbered parts of the drawing, a portion of the iramel of a typewriter is illustrated as the support for the various .parts of this improved spool and ribbon mechanism. The spool is shown supported on a suitable shaft 2 whichhas the usual gear for being and objects'relatingto details oicon-I ofin invent'ionby the dposition. v Fig. 2 is a sectional view on a line correspondingto line2-2of Figs. 1 and 3. Fig; 3 isa' the one upon the other to form acompletecylinderand for other purposes to be described.

A lug 9 is onthe external druni dand extends through a slot in .the spool endfi anda lug 9: is on the opposite end of theinnen cylinder-Sand extends through alug on the opposite-cmlfi oiathespool, so that these concem' tric sheet metalicylinderscan besrptated and adjusted on each other-by turning the ends3' of-the. spool in opposits-directions; Aninwardly;extending lug"I0 isformed on'theouter drum and is aranged in a slot 11 innthe. inner drumfi and serves to limitthe movement of the parts on mh-omai.-as1m 12 is through. he

outer drm l neatmhe-end -of.theinnpr druni' 5-, so that bythe adjustmentthe slot 12' is opened and-closed.

This slotis-forathe purpose of receiving the end. of the ribbon;13', when by rotating theopposite ends of the spool the concentric drums-are adjusted andclamp'the end of the ribbon. Theendsofrthe spool are clamped upon these concentric cylinders by means of a shouI-.

dered sleeve 6 extending-therethrough, the same being clamped by the locking nut 7 A face cam- 17 jiormedof sheet metal is the shouldered end and serves, bysuitable connection, to operate a movable ribbon guideto insure the use of the full width of the ribbon;

An opening is in the outer drum 4 where the ends ofthe shell-are separated to permit the end oi-the finger 14 to drop inside, which is secured tothe rock shaft15. This finger is held yieldingly in positi on by the weight 14. This opening is provided wi-th a piv oted cover 8,. which is pivoted on suitable ears inturned'at the opposite sidesof the spool within the spool body. The inner end 8 oi-this. cover is extended within the hollow barrel or body oi the spool and is of greater weight than the cover 8, so that, by its weight; it opens the cover when -the ribbon has become unwound from the barrel of the spool; so that the finger 14 does not strike the cover or touch it to it and is not indanger-of contacting with any part, but drops freely into the opening in the side of the spool when the spool 'is'moved to the right position and-the ribbon is unwound. The covert opens automatically when the ribbonis unwound by the action of the heavier counterbalance. The wrapping of the ribbon around the barrel of the spool, and its very slight tension on the cover 8; overcomes the weighted end 8( so that there is.

always a smooth barrel until the ribbon is entirely unwound. At this point the spoo1,-of course, should be reversed and run in the opposite direction. The reversing mechanism is thrown into gear by ship 16 on the rock shaft-.15, which is actuated by the weight 14 when the finger 14 drops into the aperture in the side of the spool body. The detailsof this trip mechan- "ism appear in the patent to Fox and Barrett No.

837 ,554, dated Dec. 4, 1906, for ribbon mechanism 1 for type writers; and as this invention does not relate particularly to the trip mechanism, it is not necessary' that anything more than the trip finger 16 which throws the mechanism intogear be here illustrated.

Having thus described myinvention what Ifclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a spool and ribbon mechanism 'for a typewriter, the ,combinationwith a typewriter frame 1, of the spool shaft 2; a spool made up of corrugated sides'33, and'a e spool body made up of incomplete concentric drums 4 and '5, of sheet metal; a slot through the outer drum arranged to be opened and closed by the adjustment of the inner drum for attaching a ribbon 13; a ribbon 13; an inwardly extending lug 10 on the outer drum engaging a i corresponding slot 11 on the inner drum to limit the 'movements of the same on each other; :1 lug 9 on one end of one drum; a lug 9 on the o'pposite end ofthe other drum, the said lugs extending into suitable slots in the opposite spool heads, whereby the drums can be adjusted one upon the other by turningthe spool heads in opposite directions; a face cam 17 formed of sheet metal;

a shouldered sleeve through the center of said drum, clamping the cam and various parts together, the incomplete 2 5 drums leaving an opening at one side; 'a pivotedgcover 8 for the said opening, arranged to be held normally closed by the pressure of the ribbon 13 wrapped around the same; a counterweight 8 for said cover 8 within the spool body, arranged to open the same when the ribbon is -unwound; a yielding finger 14 on a rock shaft 15- acounterbalance 14' for the said finger to hold the samenormally againstthe 'spool so that it will enter the aperture when the cover 8 is released and opened by the counterweight; and a trip 16 onthe shaft 15 to throw the reversing mechanism into gear, all co-acting substantially as described and for the purpose specified.

2; In a spool and ribbon mechanism for a typewriter,

the combination with a typewriter frame 1, of the spool shaft 2'; a spool made up of corrugated sides 33, and a spool-'body made up of incomplete concentric drums 4 and 5, of sheet metal; a slot through the outer drum arra'nged to be opened and closed by the adjustment of the inner drum for attaching a ribbon 13; a ribbon 13; an in-- wardly extending lug 10 on the outer drum engaging a corresponding slot 11 on the inner drum to limit the move ments of the saaneon each other; a lug eon one end of.

' one drum a lug 9' on. the opposite end of the other drum, the said lugs extending into suitable slots in the opposite spool heads, whereby the drums can be adjusted one upon .the other by turning the spool heads in opposite directions; a. shouldered sleeve through the center of said 'drum, clamping the various parts together, the incomplete drums leaving an opening at one side; a pivoted cover 8 for the said opening, farranged to be held normally closed by the pressure of the ribbon l3 wrapped around ,the same; a counterweight 8 for said cover -8 within the spool body, arranged to open the same when the ribbon is unwound; a yielding finger 14 on a rock shaft 15; a counterbalance 14 for the said finger to hold the same normallyagainst the spool so that it will enter the aperture when the cover 8' is released and opened by the counterweight; anda trip 16' on shaft 15- to throw the reversing mechanism into gear, all co-acting substantially as described and for the purpose "specified. 6'5 3; In a spool and ribbon mechanism for a typewriter, the combination with a typewriter frame 1, of the spool shaft 2; a spool made up of corrugated' sides 3-3, and a spool body made up of incomplete concentric drums 4 and- 5, of sheet metal; a slot through the outer drumarranged to be opened and closed by the adjustment of the inner drum for attaching a ribbon 13; a ribbon. 13; an inwardly extending lug 10 on the outer drum engaging a corresponding slot 11 on the inner drum to limit the movements of the same on each other; a lug 9 on one end of one drum; a lug 9 on the opposite end of the other drum, the said lugs extending into suitable slots in the opposite spool heads, whereby the drums can be adjusted one upon the other by turning the spool heads in opposite directions .closed by the pressure of the ribbon 13 wrapped around the same; a counterweight 8 for said cover 8 within thehollow spool body, arranged to open the same when the ribbon is unwound; a yielding finger 14 on the rock shaft 15; a counterbalance 14' for the said finger to hold the samenormally against the spool so that it will enter the opening when the cover 8 is released and opened by the counterweight; and a trip 16 on the shaft 15 to throw the reversing mechanism into gear, all co-act'ing substairtially as described and for the purpose specified.

5. In a spool and ribbon mechanism for a typewriter, the

' combination of a spool with suitable ends and a hollow body containing an opening in one side thereof; a pivoted cover 8 for said opening, arranged to be held normally closed by the pressure of the ribbon 13 wrapped around the same; a counterweight 8' for said cover 8 within the hollow spool body, arranged to open the same whenthe ribbon is unwound; a yielding finger 14;.the rock shaft 15 carrying said finger; a counterbalance 14' for the said finger to hold the same normally against the spool so.that it will enter the opening when the cover 8 is released and opened by its counterweight; and a trip 16 onthe shaft 15 to throw the reversing mechanism into gear, all coacting substantially as described and for the purpose specified.

6. In a spool and ribbon mechanism for a typewriter, the combination of a spool with suitable ends and ahollow body containing an opening in one side thereof; a pivoted cover 8 for said opening, arranged to be held normally closed by the pressure of the ribbon 13 wrapped around the same; a counterweight 8 for said cover 8 Within the hollow spool body, arranged to open the same when the ribbon is unwound; a yielding fing'er 14; the rock shaft 15 carrying the said finger; a counterbalance 14 ,for the said finger to hold the same normally against the spool'so that it will enter the opening when the cover 8 is released and opened by its counterweight, all co-acting substantially.

as described and for the purpose specified.

7. In a spool and ribbon mechanism for a typewriter, the

combination of a spool with suitable ends and a hollow body containing an opening in one side thereof; a pivoted cover 8 for said opening, arranged to be held normally closed by the pressure of the ribbon 13 wrapped arpund the same a counterweight 8 for said cover 8 within the hol- 1330 low spool body, arranged to open the same when the ribbon is unwound; a yielding finger 14, resting normally against the spool so that it will enter the opening when'the "cover 8 is released and the rock-shaft 15 carrying said finger, all co-acting for the purpose specified.- 8. In a spool and ribbon mechanism for a typewriter, the combination of a spool with a hollow body, containing an openingin the side thereof; a pivoted cover for said opening, arranged to beheld normally closed by the pressure of the ribbon when it is wrapped around the same; yielding, means for holding said cover normally open when the spool is empty, so that when the ribbon is unwrapped the same will open; anda yielding finger arranged to rest against the spool body and the ribbon wrapped thereon, so

as to enter the opening in the side of the spool body when' the ribbon is unwound and the cover i opened, all coacting for the purpose specified.

9. In a ribbon mechanism for a typewriting machine, the

combination of a spool with a body made up of concentric sheet metal shells adapted to adjust the one upon the other, the outer one of which is slotted, one of which is connected to operate by one spool head and the other by the opposite spool-'head,- whereby the said slot can be opened and closed by manipulating the spool-heads for 1 detaching and attaching the ribbon, as specified.

10. In a ribbon mechanism for a typewriting machine, the'combination of a ribbon spool, the body of which is made of concentric parts, connected to the opposite heads or the spool and adjustehle upon the other, the said parts being formed with' an aperture between them; and-a :made of ,parts, connected to the opposite heaiis of the spool and adjustable the one uponthe other, the said. parts;

be'ingtormed withan. aperture between them for receiving and clamping the ribbon as the parts lire adjusted, for the purpose specified.

In a typewriter, the combination of a; spool with suitable heads and' a. body made up of eoncentricparts,

one moveble on the other and a slotthrough the parts to receive the end of the ribbon and clampthe same by slipping one part on theother, as specified.

' In witness WhQIBOf I'haVG hereunto set my h and and seal in the presence-of two witnesses.

WILLIAM R. Fox. in. 's.]

Witnesses:

ELLA DE Viuns, JAMns STRASBURG. 

